Touch of Class Rose

Guest Author - Connie Krochmal

It is hard to beat the Touch of Class rose and the Voodoo rose when it comes to choosing cut flowers.

Touch of Class Rose

Of all the hybrid tea roses this is by far one of the all-time favorites for flower shows. It is one of the best varieties for cutting. The stems have a very long vase life. They open singly on long stems.

With a light scent these are double. Up to 5½ inches wide, they look very elegant. Having a ruffled appearance, there are 35 petals. These form a classically shaped rose with the petals in spirals. The blooms can change color over time so that they display a range of shades, mostly in pinks. The colors can include coral, pink-coral, pink, and pink-orange. Often, they open as a cream and coral, changing to all pink over time. Often there will be coral at the edges. A repeat bloomer, this plant bears lots of stems for cutting all season from summer to fall.

The deep green, shiny leaves are mostly resistant to disease, but can get downy mildew. Its disease resistance is above average.

The upright, sturdy, bushy plants are vigorous. This bush is four to six feet tall and three to four feet wide. A climbing form is available.

Introduced in 1984, it was bred in Antibes, France by Michel Kriloff. It was introduced to the U.S. in 1984 and was named an All-American Rose Selections variety in 1986. According to the judges it received this honor because of its large, long stemmed blossoms, the perfect flower form, the vigorous plant growth, and the unique color of the blooms.

Its parents included (Queen Elizabeth x Romantica) and Micaela.Touch of Class is recommended for zones four through eleven. In Europe, it is sometimes sold as Marechal le Clerc.

Voodoo Rose

With their classic rose shape, this is an excellent choice for cut flowers. The Voodoo rose has a lot to offer. This repeat bloomer will provide more than enough stems for cutting. For the best possible petal color, grow this is partial shade.

The flowers are often a wonderful mix of gold and coral with red. With 35 petals, they can also be a blend of red and orange with peach and yellow. Over time, they fade to a clear pink. Quite large, these are up to six inches across. They provide a very sweet fragrance.

The stems are long, sturdy, and upright. The vigorous, tall plants can reach five feet in height with a spread of four feet. It is recommended for zones five through eleven. It is very suitable for warm climates.

This hybrid tea has shiny, deep green foliage that is rather leathery. This is resistant to disease.

The parentage of this plant includes Lolita along with First Prize, Camelot Times, and Typhoo Tea. It was introduced in 1984 in the U.S, and was bred in California by Jack Christensen.